In the first of two semifinal games between two league-leading teams, Färjestad Karlstad from Sweden stunned Czech club Sparta Prague 6-2 before 11,682 fans at O2 Arena in the Czech capital and will carry a commanding four-goal lead into their home game next week.
Both of these teams came into this game red-hot domestically, both leading their respective leagues and neither having lost yet in 2025. Sparta came into the game having won seven Extraliga games in a row, while Färjestad has won five straight SHL games.
Färjestad was led offensively in this game by Slovak winger Marián Studenič, who had a goal and three assists. Oskar Steen scored two goals and, with 17 points, is now tied for the CHL scoring lead with Sven Andrighetto of ZSC Lions Zurich, who play tomorrow.
Sparta outshot Färjestad 30-23 but Canadian Maxime Lagacé was very strong in goal and Färjestad was opportunistic on its chances.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvbKQ9STF4s[/embed]
With the score tied 1-1 late in the first period, Färjestad controlled the puck down low and Joel Kellman backhanded a pass out front to Steen, who fired it past Josef Kořenář.
Entering the third period, the score was 3-1 but a costly turnover at the Sparta blueline gave a breakaway to Studenič, who made no mistake. And midway through the third period, when Miroslav Forman gave Sparta a glimmer of hope by reducing the deficit to 5-2, Joel Nyström responded just 11 seconds later to restore the four-goal difference.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDULlKHB9Xs[/embed]
Sparta opened its quarterfinal against the Växjö Lakers with a loss at home before coming back on the road, but that was only a one-goal deficit to overcome. Only one CHL team has ever overcome a four-goal deficit after one game, and that was Swedish team Leksands IF against KAC Klagenfurt from Austria in 2021-22.
Färjestad now has a chance to make the Champions Hockey League final for the first time ever. The return leg goes next Tuesday at Löfsberg Arena in Karlstad starting at 19:00 CET.
The other semifinal features two Swiss teams – defending CHL champion Genève-Servette hosts the ZSC Lions on Wednesday, with the return game going in Zurich next Tuesday.